Fullmetal Alchemist, Vol. 6

鋼の錬金術師 [Hagane no Renkinjutsushi] #6

by Hiromu Arakawa

The origin of the Elric Brothers! Once, Edward and Alphonse Elric were willing to do anything to become alchemists. But when they tried to use their newfound skills to resurrect their dead mother, they broke a taboo and encountered something more terrifying than death itself. Now, hardened by years of military training, Edward and Alphonse have returned to the woman who first taught them alchemy...but can she help them, or even forgive them?

Genres: Manga, Fantasy, Comics, Graphic Novels, Fiction, Science Fiction, Young Adult

186 pages, Paperback

First published October 22, 2003

About the author

Hiromu Arakawa (author: 荒川弘) is a Japanese manga artist, best known for Fullmetal Alchemist (鋼の錬金術師 Hagane no renkinjutsushi).
Her real name is Hiromi Arakawa (荒川弘美).

Arakawa was born and raised on a dairy farm in Hokkaidō.
She thought of being a manga artist since she was little. After graduating high school, she took oil painting classes while working on her family's farm. During that time, she also created dōjinshi manga with her friends and drew yonkoma for a magazine. After eight years she moved to Tōkyō and started out as assistant writer for Hiroyuki Etō.
Her debut as manga artist is in 1999 with STRAY DOG. In 2001 she started working on her famous and award winning series Fullmetal Alchemist, that soon gets a successful anime adaptation.
Other works include Silver Spoon (銀の匙 Silver Spoon, Gin no saji Silver Spoon).

Reviews

[Marquise · Rating 5 out of 5]

Today, too, is a terrible day for rain.



I can remember there's been only one other scene in a manga (well, anime, but for the current purposes it counts) that has made me feel like this. I can say, too, that as someone who lost her idolised parent at around the age the Elrics were when they lost their mother, I can understand the psychology that led them to the ill-fated alchemy experiment to resurrect their mother. On one hand, I think they don't do the mourning onpage for long enough, but on the other hand their obsessive pursuit of human transmutation is also how they mourn. Kind of like they got stuck in the Denial stage of mourning.

I also got the impression that Granny Pinako didn't do much for the boys as their guardian after they got orphaned, I'd even dare say she erred on the side of neglect. At least when it comes to their alchemical tinkering. Where was she when the boys were playing dangerously with fire? In that sense, the apparition of Izumi Curtis is a bit plot-convenient in that it gets her off the hook and hands over the responsibility of training the boys in alchemy to the new teacher.

And what a Teacher she is, capital T! If Star Wars taught the world something, it is that there's always two, a Master and an Apprentice.

And the Apprentice makes the same mistake the Master made.

I loved Izumi on sight, she's at first glance a stereotypical gruff mentor with a propensity for tough love, but then you start learning more about her. I'm putting her up there with Mustang as my favourite character (the jury's not out yet on the Elrics) so far in the series. This time with no shipping involved, I promise! She's already taken, anyway. My Cub says she and Sig are "relationship goals," and I can see why.

Oh, and we have a new Sin appear here! There's a new bad mofo in town, and by the looks of Lust acting like a gentle kitty near him plus his appearance that's a cross between a pimp and a wannabe rapper, I'm guessing it can't be none other than Greed. Yes, I'm enjoying having to guess which Sin is which before it's said onpage, like a sort of Catholic school mini-jeopardy for otakus.

[Baba · Rating 3 out of 5]

In which the brothers continue their origin story that lead them to how they are today. An early origin story kind of sits well, so the entire series won't be centred around drip-feeding it. Such a key story easily makes it the best volume for me so far - a 7 out of 12, Three Star read.

2024

[Jess Owens · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love the Elric brothers, your honor

[Elena Rodríguez · Rating 4 out of 5]

" One who accepts and understands the flow of power, and constructs using that knowledge...is called an alchemist. The world is basically functioning according to this flow life and death of humans are part of this as well. That's why you should never, ever try to revive human being. "

Cada vez me están gustando más los personajes. Este tomo por fin se profundiza sobre la historia de los hermanos Elric y la verdad es que es un poco desgarradora. Tengo muchas ganas de llegar al climax de la historia. Siento que me voy a sorprender y mucho.

[Caroline · Rating 5 out of 5]

THIS volume is largely dedicated to the backstory of Edward and Alphonse and omg I'm not crying you are!! I love seeing the brothers when they were younger! They have such a genuine, loving bond and it makes me so sad to see them before everything went wrong (but also happy to see that they were happy and smol). Their backstory is so devastating but I loved reading it and FINALLY getting all the information I wanted. It's honestly such a great backstory!! Seeing their relationship with their teacher develop was also really wonderful. Keen to know more about the new character we meet at the end so ON TO ANOTHER VOLUME FOR ME!

[Maiko-chan [|] · Rating 5 out of 5]

[Subham · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a great one as it tells the origin finally! We start off with their stay on the island and how they survived that and then training under their teacher, her harsh lessons and their continuous efforts and then the whole human transmutation and what led to them joining the military and they tell it all to their teacher and she is angry but then they start working on the solution. That part was so good to see and it like clears all the doubts about their origin and all and gives you a clean lens to see through and understand them properly plus the rich and emotional story is the most touching part.

The thing with Roy and the next villains is interesting. I like how this volume manages the emotional aspects, character conflicts and turmoil and makes you care for all the characters and I like how the author is exploring the different villains slowly. Plus the art was so much better here and compliments the story really well.

[Juho Pohjalainen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Truth hurts.

[Shea ☾⚂ · Rating 5 out of 5]

The backstory got me crying, and who the hell is that guy???

(SPOILERS) and what’s up with that lizard man thing, give me the creeps

Since I was a kid- Lennon Stella 🎵

[Clar · Rating 5 out of 5]

VALORACIÓN: 4'5 estrellas

Madre mía, a que velocidad leo cuando tengo ansiedad...

[Lashaan Balasingam · Rating 4 out of 5]

A brilliant volume completely dedicated to the Elric brothers' childhood and their transformative days, from their training under Izumi's guidance to the tragic attempt to resurrect a loved one to his acquisition of a new identity as the Fullmetal Alchemist, this story reveals the dark secrets that Ed learned through trial and error.

Yours truly,

Lashaan | Blogger and Book Reviewer
Official blog: https://bookidote.com/

[Rod Brown · Rating 3 out of 5]

The second half of the Elric Brothers origin story concludes as we get to see all the scenes previously hinted at or only partially revealed. Now maybe we can get an explanation for the cabal of villains who've been popping up?

[Devin Willson · Rating 5 out of 5]

tHESE pOOR cHILDREN

[yel ᰔ · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 of 5 stars

[Димитър Цолов · Rating 5 out of 5]

След привидно безцелното им скитане насам-натам в първите четири томчета, авторката най-сетне започна да осветлява важните моменти от миналото на братята Елрик. В предишния, пети брой вече ни представи учителката им Идзуми Къртис, а сега, в шестия, ни разкри началните етапи на обучението им. Показа ни злощастно объркалия се експеримент, при който Алфонс загуби своето тяло, а Едуард - крака и ръката си. Видяхме също така вербуването на Ед от полковник Рой Мъстенг и изпита му за алхимик при военните; научихме и как точно се е сдобил с прякора си, "Железния", даден му от президента Кинг Брадли.

Абсолютно заслужени 4,5 ⭐️

[Jedi JC Daquis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Volume six gives that much-needed exposition and flashback story to beef-up the character development on the Elric brothers. Much of the scenes here show the pre-state alchemist events that happened, including the failed human transmutation!

Plus, there's a new band of enemies in this arc! Cool.

[Ayesha (Rilke's version) ☾ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Okay, Chapter 23, Knock on the heaven's gate; SHIT WENT DOWN!

[Nea Poulain · Rating 4 out of 5]

1. Amo a su maestra.
2. Amo demasiado a su maestra.
3. En serio la amo mucho.

[Lilah · Rating 5 out of 5]

So far it's definitely my favorite volume.

[Zara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love that we got some more context on how the characters ended up where they are. Izumi is also a favourite character, love her!

[juls · Rating 5 out of 5]

once again I love izumi so much

[Mary Emma Sivils · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this volume! A lot of it was backstory, but it focused on elements that were intrinsic to the entire story. While I don’t at all agree with this series’ outlook on God or the meaning of life, there are definitely some interesting concepts here.

[Cindy Alanis · Rating 4 out of 5]

ed e al são tão preciosos, não mereciam tanto sofrimento.


sinto que esse serie vai me fazer chorar muito, então começarei uma contagem de volumes em que chorei:
sim, chorei nesse volume (2º)

[Murat · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

[Renata · Rating 4 out of 5]

Aww I really liked their origin story. Poor little bros.

Also: no cats died.

But: some rabbits died. But I felt okay about it because it was for food on a desert island. Also they went to rabbit heaven in the bonus pages.

I am aware: that my GoodReads is basically DoesTheDogDie.com for books, and I think that is a useful service to provide.

[Elevetha · Rating 5 out of 5]

Baaaaaack story!!

[Esma T · Rating 5 out of 5]

Şimdilik tüm seride en sevdiğim sayı bu oldu, Elric kardeşlerin geçmişini okumak oldukça zevkliydi. Adada yaşananlar ve Ed'in sık sık gülünç duruma düşmesi de bu cildi ayrıca keyifli hale getirmiş.

[gabi · Rating 4 out of 5]

That was interesting and sad... And what is this all leading up to?!

[Никола Милосављевић · Rating 5 out of 5]

Upomoć! Ne mogu da stanem!

[Laura A. Grace · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars

I struggled a little bit with this volume and I'm not sure if its because we see the heartbreak and hardship that the Elric brothers went through or if its because of THAT THING and everything involving it (and the entire situation). I just felt somewhat loss in making some of the connections and what the truth was and not sure if its because I was sleepy at the time I read it or not. I know its a very pivotal moment though!

However with that said, I have a strong feeling that if I would have been reading this as a young teen, I'm pretty sure I would have had a crush on Edward! LOL! He was super cool at his test and as an adult was pretty shocked and impressed just how talented he is!

Despite how hard their teacher may be on them, she continues to be amazing! My heart went out to her in hearing some of her story and really glad that they have all teamed up, even though it seems a new alchemist is joining the fray?! Seriously, when do Edward and Al ever get a break because just when things seem to be on the calmer side, a new villain pops up and they are thrust into danger again!